Meet Our Development Director—Lissa Harris

Food Connects is excited to welcome Lissa Harris to their Development team as their new Development Director. This new position will strengthen Food Connects’ fundraising efforts, create and execute the organization's Annual Development Plan and Capital Campaigns, and support the organization’s continued growth.

Lissa officially joined the team in July after previously working with the Food Connects team on various projects throughout early 2021. Before joining the Food Connects, Lissa held positions at Strolling of the Heifers and Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, responsible for marketing, fundraising, and more.

We are thrilled to have her on the team and are excited to share more about her!

What sparked your interest in Food Connects and why are you excited to be here?

I had a chance to work with Food Connects on some community projects earlier this year. I realized very quickly that Food Connects is primed to be a leader in the establishment of a new food system that relies less on mass production and more on added value to our community. The organization is collaborative by nature. One of the reasons I moved here from New York was the access to farm-fresh food and a culture that values healthy eating and a focus on earth-affirming growing practices. Food tastes better when it doesn't have to travel across continents to get to our local supermarkets. There are so many great farms here, I feel very lucky!

What do you see for the future of FC and what you will do here? What are your hopes/dreams for this position?

Food Connects is really poised to be at the center of a different kind of food system, one that doesn't rely on large corporations like Sysco or Tyson. Going to my favorite restaurant and knowing that some of the ingredients they cook with are grown right here in Vermont or New Hampshire makes all the difference. I want to use my experience in development and fundraising to make sure Food Connects has the capital it needs to grow and expand its markets so more people have access to healthy, nutritious food.

How will your previous non-profit experience impact your work at Food Connects?

Non-profit work is full of passion for the mission and I'll use that drive to create enthusiasm for the work that Food Connects does. I've worked for both locally and nationally based non-profits throughout my career. I can take some of the skills I've learned working for organizations like the American Cancer Society and apply a local focus.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

Before anything, I'm a mom, so the question should be how do you spend your time outside of being a mom! Both my kids are still in school and need me, which I love. But I'm raising them to not need me, that's the point I guess. I'm also raising them to love horror movies as much as I do.

What is your favorite or least favorite food?

Seafood! I grew up on Long Island, in a small beach town, so summertime was lobster time! My brother-in-law is a clammer so having fresh clams on the half shell was such a treat. I've been to more clam bakes than I can count! When we go back to NY to visit family I make sure I go to my favorite seafood restaurants.

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?

I've been playing piano since I was 4 years old. I'm classically trained, which is a shame because I love playing pop music from all decades. I'm also a mediocre drummer and I can play a little ukulele too. I come from a long line of musicians and music lovers.

If I handed you a plane ticket right now to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would probably go to Italy, specifically Sclafani, which is a town near Palermo in Sicily. That's where my grandfather's family was from and there is a street named after the family, Via Varca!.